New research creates a league table of child poverty revealing the huge North vs South divide.

Health Equity North has created a Premier League table of child poverty rates surrounding the various football teams.

Northern teams almost across the board are mid-table or in the relegation zone.

The rankings, based on public health information from the areas local to the clubs, look at poverty; obesity; infant mortality rate; life expectancy at birth; educational attainment; and the gap in life expectancy.

Get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device for just £6 for 6 months. Click here

The top six teams for least child poverty are:

  1. Manchester United
  2. Bournemouth
  3. Fulham
  4. Tottenham
  5. Chelsea
  6. Brighton

Professor Kate Pickett at York University said: “We all want our children to have the chance to be the best they can be.

“Our children in the North could shine so brightly if we created a level playing field for them.

The Northern Echo: Health Equity North has ranked the areas around all the premier league teams for child poverty

“This report shows how badly we need the government to get stuck in to do just that.”

Children in Newcastle came 12th in the table, with nearly 38% of children from 0-15 living in households earning less than 60% of the median national wage.

The areas facing relegation were:

18. Nottingham Forest

19. Everton

20. Liverpool

Professor Clare Bambra, Professor of Public Health at Newcastle University, said: “Our League demonstrates the stark inequalities in the life chances of children across England.

Read more

Richmond Brewery Company hit with imminent closure notice

Concern as Darlington hotel plans to stay open until 2am

Newcastle United make transfer progress over Tino Livramento

“It is unacceptable that around 40% of children growing up in the shadows of some of the richest football clubs in the world live in poverty and have lower life chances.

“As a country, we can afford to change this and it's vital for the future health of our country that we do so urgently.

“Our children are our future – and they will judge us harshly on this.”